Block a lost or stolen phone
The lost SIM is blocked, you get a new SIM with the same number, and the phone is blocked on every network in India. If the phone is found, you can unblock it.
About this guidePending verification
Published on 12-11-2026. Not every fact has been checked against its official source yet: confirm at the office.
For whom: People in Andhra Pradesh whose mobile phone is lost or was stolen.
Answer the questions below first. Then the documents and steps open.
1Your situation
We show only what your answers need.
- Where are you now?
- Has money gone from your bank account or UPI through that phone?
Your answers stay on this phone.
Each step below says who it is for. Confirm yours at the office, then change your answer here.
2Documents you need
Tick the ones you have. They are kept in this browser.
Details
Two IMEI numbers for a dual-SIM phone
Not confirmed: CEIR's list of prerequisites asks for the IMEI "if available", but the form makes the first IMEI compulsory. We found no official page saying where to find it. Look at the phone's box and purchase bill, or ask the shop that sold it.
Sources: 1
Details
For upload: a PDF, JPG or PNG file
If you don't have it: From the police station where you report the loss (see the steps).
Sources: 1, 2, 6
Details
Any one of: masked Aadhaar (the first 8 digits hidden), PAN card, voter ID, driving licence, or another identity card. For upload: a PDF, JPG or PNG file.
Sources: 1
Details
Sources: 1, 6
Details
Not confirmed: The papers we read do not list which cards are accepted for digital KYC without Aadhaar. Ask at the store.
Sources: 8, 11
Details
If you don't have it: The number CEIR gave when you blocked the phone. If you have lost it, use "Forgot Request ID" on CEIR.
Sources: 6, 2
Nothing to get ready before these steps.
3Your steps
· Do them in order. Tick each one when it is done.
- Do this nowIf: My phone is lost or was stolenIf: Yes, or I think so
If money was taken through the phone, call 1930 at once.
This cyber crime helpline is free and works round the clock, every day. The "Report a cyber fraud" guide says what to do next.
Sources: 14
- Do this nowIf: My phone is lost or was stolen
From another phone, call your mobile company's customer care and ask them to block the lost SIM.
Airtel: 121 or 198 from an Airtel number, 1800 103 4444 from any other number. Jio: 1800 889 9999 from a non-Jio number. Vi: 199, or "Block your SIM" on myvi.in.
Not confirmed
These numbers are from the companies' own websites (October 2026) and may change. We could not check BSNL's website: BSNL users, ask at a BSNL customer service centre.
Sources: 11, 12, 13, 10
- Do this nowIf: My phone is lost or was stolen
Report the loss at a police station.
Give the phone's brand, model and IMEI number, and the date and place of the loss. Take the complaint number and a copy of the complaint: CEIR needs both to block the phone.
Not confirmed
The Andhra Pradesh Police citizen portal has "Submit a Complaint": you log in with your mobile number and an OTP, and you get a Petition ID. But no official page says whether it can be used for a lost phone, or whether CEIR accepts that number as the complaint number. Ask at the police station.
Sources: 1, 6, 15
- Do this nowIf: My phone is lost or was stolen
Go to your mobile company's store for a new SIM with the same number.
They will do Aadhaar e-KYC (fingerprint, iris or face) or digital KYC. The new SIM starts working only if your details and photo match the company's records.
Not confirmed
No official paper we read gives the charge for the new SIM; the company sets it. Ask at the store and take a receipt.
Sources: 8, 9, 11, 13
- Do this nowIf: My phone is lost or was stolen
For the first 24 hours the new SIM cannot send or receive SMS.
CEIR sends its OTP to this number, so wait 24 hours before the next step.
Sources: 8, 1
- Do this nowIf: My phone is lost or was stolen
On the CEIR site, fill in the form "Request for blocking lost/stolen mobile": the mobile numbers that were in the phone, its IMEI numbers, brand, model and price; the place and date of the loss; the state (Andhra Pradesh), district, police station, complaint number and a copy of the complaint; your name, address and identity card.
Submit it with the OTP sent to the new SIM. You can also do this in the Sanchar Saathi app.
Open the official pageSources: 1, 6, 7
- Do this nowIf: My phone is lost or was stolen
After you submit, you get an 18-digit Request ID.
Keep it safe, with the police complaint number and the IMEI number: you need them to check the status and to unblock the phone once it is found.
Sources: 6, 2
- Do this nowIf: My phone is lost or was stolen
On CEIR, check the status under "Check lost/stolen Mobile Request Status" with your Request ID.
When it says "Blocking Request is successfully processed", your phone is blocked on every company's network and nobody can use it.
Open the official pageSources: 6, 3, 7
- Do this nowIf: My phone is lost or was stolen
If anyone puts a SIM in your phone, an alert goes to you and to the police station where you complained.
An SMS tells you which police station to contact. Contact that station.
Sources: 7, 6
- Do this nowIf: I blocked my phone and now I have it back
On CEIR, open "Request for un-blocking recovered/found mobile" and leave "Un-Blocking Request" selected.
Give the Request ID, the mobile number you gave for the OTP when blocking, and the reason ("Recovered by police" or "Found by self"). Submit it with the OTP.
Open the official pageNot confirmed
CEIR's un-blocking request does not ask for the police complaint. No official page we read says whether you must tell the police that the phone has been found. Ask at the police station where you complained.
Sources: 2, 6
- Do this nowIf: I blocked my phone and now I have it back
When "Check Request Status" says "Un-Blocking Request is successfully processed", the mobile companies unblock the phone on their networks.
After that the phone works again.
Open the official pageSources: 6, 3
If something goes wrong
If it is rejectedIf CEIR does not accept your request, read the error message it shows, correct the details and try again.
If CEIR does not accept your request, read the error message it shows, correct the details and try again. If it still fails, complain to Sanchar Saathi through the "Grievance" link at the bottom of the CEIR site.
Sanchar Saathi grievance · Open the official page
Sources: 6, 5
If it is lateIf the company does not block the SIM or give a new one, complain on its customer care number and take the docket number.
If the company does not block the SIM or give a new one, complain on its customer care number and take the docket number. If it is not solved in time, appeal to the company's Appellate Authority within 30 days after that time runs out. An appeal is free; the Appellate Authority's details are on the company's website.
The company's complaint centre, then its Appellate Authority
Sources: 10
AlsoIf a new phone was lost or stolen before any SIM was used in it, contact the district CEIR nodal police officer with a copy of the FIR or police complaint that has the IMEI numbers.
If a new phone was lost or stolen before any SIM was used in it, contact the district CEIR nodal police officer with a copy of the FIR or police complaint that has the IMEI numbers.
District CEIR nodal police officer
Sources: 1
AlsoIf you have lost the Request ID, open "Forgot Request ID" on CEIR and give the mobile number you used when blocking, with the OTP.
If you have lost the Request ID, open "Forgot Request ID" on CEIR and give the mobile number you used when blocking, with the OTP. It shows the Request IDs of the requests made with that number.
CEIR (Sanchar Saathi) · Open the official page
Sources: 6, 4
Official websites for this work
- Sanchar Saathi Block a lost phone, report fraud calls
Related guides
The 15 official pages and papers this guide is written from
- Request for blocking lost/stolen mobile (CEIR User Direct Request Blocking Form)Department of Telecommunications, Government of India (Sanchar Saathi CEIR, run by C-DOT), Prerequisites; Device Information (mobile numbers, IMEI, brand, model, invoice, price); Lost Information (place, date, state, district, police station, complaint number and copy); Mobile Owner Personal Information (identity types, masked Aadhaar); file types accepted (PNG, PDF, JPEG); note on new handsets without SIM used · read on 30-10-2026
- Request for un-blocking recovered/found mobile (CEIR User Direct Request Un-Blocking Form)Department of Telecommunications, Government of India (Sanchar Saathi CEIR, run by C-DOT), Un-Blocking Request; Update Police Complaint Details; Reason for Un-blocking (Recovered by police, Found by self, Blocked by mistake, Other reason); Request ID format (18 digits) · read on 30-10-2026
- Check lost/stolen Mobile Request StatusDepartment of Telecommunications, Government of India (Sanchar Saathi CEIR, run by C-DOT), Request ID / Complaint No. format information · read on 30-10-2026
- Forgot Request IDDepartment of Telecommunications, Government of India (Sanchar Saathi CEIR, run by C-DOT), Mobile number given while blocking; OTP · read on 30-10-2026
- Sanchar Saathi: block your lost or stolen mobile (CEIR home page)Department of Telecommunications, Government of India (Sanchar Saathi CEIR, run by C-DOT), Citizen Services; footer link "Grievance" · read on 30-10-2026
- C-DOT CEIR User Manual for Mobile User, Version 03Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), for the Department of Telecommunications, Sections 1.3 (process flow), 2.1 (blocking), 2.2 (unblocking), 2.3 (check request status), 2.4 (forgot request ID) · read on 30-10-2026
- Over 6 Lakh Lost and Stolen Mobile Handsets recovered on DoT's Sanchar Saathi InitiativePress Information Bureau, Ministry of Communications, Paragraphs 1-2 (blocking across networks, traceability alert to the citizen and the police station, SMS naming the station) and the advice to report lost devices (30-09-2025) · read on 30-10-2026
- Amendment/addendum to the existing instructions for adequate verification of customers before enrolling them as subscribers (File No. 800-09/2023-AS.II)Department of Telecommunications, Government of India (Access Services Wing), Paragraph 5 (Aadhaar e-KYC: fingerprint, iris or face) and paragraph 6 (SIM swap/replacement by e-KYC or digital KYC; details and photograph must match; SMS barred for 24 hours) (31-08-2023) · read on 30-10-2026
- Handling of SIM Swap/replacement requests pertaining to the end users of business connections (File No. 800-09/2023-AS.II-Part(1))Department of Telecommunications, Government of India (Licensing Policy), Paragraph 1 (the revised SIM swap instructions apply from 01.12.2023) (23-06-2025) · read on 30-10-2026
- Consumer Handbook on Telecommunications (2018)Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Chapter 2, Complaint Redressal: Complaint Centre and docket number; Appeal to Appellate Authority (04-05-2018) · read on 30-10-2026
- How to Block Stolen or Lost Airtel Sim Card?Bharti Airtel Limited (the operator's own website), Sections 1 (customer care: 121 or 198 from an Airtel number, 1800 103 4444 from another) and 2 (Airtel store, ID proof) · read on 30-10-2026
- Jio Support: Customer Care Contact InformationReliance Jio Infocomm Limited (the operator's own website), Customer care helpline for mobile users (1800-889-9999, dial from a non-Jio number) · read on 30-10-2026
- Block your SIM Card/Mobile Number OnlineVodafone Idea Limited (the operator's own website), Block your SIM (OTP to alternate number and e-mail); "call 199"; SIM replacement at the nearest Vi Store · read on 30-10-2026
- 'National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal' enables public to report incidents of cyber-crimes, with special focus on cyber-crimes against women and childrenPress Information Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, Helpline 1930, toll-free, 24X7X365 (18-12-2024) · read on 30-10-2026
- Submit a Complaint (ఫిర్యాదు నమోదు)Andhra Pradesh Police (Government of Andhra Pradesh), citizen services portal, Login with mobile number and OTP; the complaint form (district, police station, subject, place, brief facts, petition copy); the success message (Petition ID, reference number by SMS within 30 minutes). Page text from the portal's /i18n/en.json and /i18n/te.json (keys lodge.*, login.*) · read on 30-10-2026